Boeing Loses the Battle but Wins the War

After nearly eight weeks, Boeing and its International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers Union (IAM) reached an agreement that ended a strike involving 27,000 workers. The striker followed days of "last minute", around the clocks talks that began when management and union negotiators failed to reach an agreement over compensation and job protection issues.

As a result of the agreement, IAM workers won benefits in areas that include healthcare, pensions, wages, and job security for 2.900 workers in inventory management and delivery categories. Boeing also agreed to retrain workers who are laid off or displaced.

Despite these concessions, a spokesman for Boeing was quoted as saying that the agreement "gives us the flexibility we need to run the company". The four-year agreement allows Boeing to retain critical subcontracting provisions it won in past struggles with the union.

Commenting on all this, one analysis concluded that "the union probably won the battle and Boeing probably wins he war". Can you explain what this analyst means?